Portable rapid photographic film processor



April 23, 1963 z. TAKATS 3,036,438

PORTABLE RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSOR Filed Feb. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ZOLTA N TAKA T BYMZZM ATTORNEYS April 23, 1963 z. TAKATS PORTABLE RAPID PHOTOGRAPI-IIC FILM PROCESSOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2, 1961 INVENTOR.

ZOLTAN TAKATS ATTORNEYS April 23, 1963 z. TAKATS 3,086,438

PORTABLE RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSOR Filed Feb. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 N mm FIGS INVENTOR. ZOLTAN TAKATS ATTOR N EYS April 23, 1963 2. TAKATS PORTABLE RAPID PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM PROCESSOR Filed. Feb. 2, 1961 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.4

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,086,438 EORTAELE RAPE) PHOTDGRAPHIC FILM PRQCESSOR Zoltan Takats, Vestal, N.Y., assignor to General Aniline & Film Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 86,795 1 Qlaim. (Cl. 95-?4) This invention relates to improvements in photographic film processing apparatus and more particularly it regaltes to a portable and rapid processor for photographic The steps in the processing of photographic film are well known in the art. Machines have been developed for automatically processing photographic film, e.g. a reel of exposed film is placed in a machine and is passed through a number of tanks of processing solutions and then dried while the film is being continuously driven through the machine. The processing commonly takes place under a light-tight cover of the machine. Although such arrangements, as described above, are generally known in the prior art, they are invariably complicated, entailing heavy devices requiring a stationary installation and containing a large amount of liquid processing solution and a complex mechanical construction. It is an object of this invention to provide a light weight, simple, portable and self-contained automatic film processor having a light-tight casing containing therein processing solutions through which the film first passes and a drying unit, for rapidly processing photographic film as it is driven through the processor from a film supply magazine to a take-up reel.

One of the reasons the prior art film processing machines are bulky and heavy and hence not portable is that they contain relatively large amounts of processing solutions and a number of open solution tanks within the light-tight housing. This invention achieves portability in a rapid film processor by providing the developer tanks through which the film passes with only narrow cavities for containing a small amount of processing solution and providing excellent film-solution contact while continuously supplying and circulating solution to this cavity from closed, separately sealed solution containers.

Another feature of the subject invention contributing to the portability of the processor is a unique dried construction having means for quickly threading the film to be processed therethrough and passing the film in a sinuous path while blowing warm dry air thereover for drying purposes. Prior to air drying in the drier unit, any solution in the film sprocket perforations is blown out by a separate blower and water spots are removed by an absorbent film contacting means.

compactness and simplicity is achieved by virtue of the fact that the entire assembly is uniquely arranged within a light-tight housing having a pair of removable covers and a stationary central portion with a vertical support wall. The developer tanks and drier unit are supported from one side of the vertical wall the solution containers for supplying solution to the narrow cavities in the developer tanks, the drive means for driving the film, as well as the blower and heater unit, are supported from the other side of the vertical wall providing a balanced unit.

The portability of the unit is further illustrated by the fact that a light-tight film supply magazine and take-up reel having a self-contained drive are detachable from the unit when not in operative position and may be stored under the cover of the unit. This allows the unit to be carried about by a handle and when ready to use all of the parts and elements are contained completely 3,086,438 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 therein. For operation, it is only necesary to remove the light-tight film supply magazine, take-up reel and drive and insert a leader of the exposed film through the apparatus. When this is done and the drive motor is turned on, the film will be automatically and rapidly processed from exposed undeveloped film to a completely developed and dry film stored on a take-up reel.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose, by way of example, the principle of this invention and the best mode which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the portable processor in operative position showing the outside appearance and the casing;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section, with a number of parts broken away for clarity illustrating the passage of the film through the processing unit;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view from within the processor with some elements broken away for the sake of clarity illustrating the arrangement and support of the various parts within the processor housing;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the processor taken from a side opposite the view of FIG. 2 and showing some parts broken away for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional end elevational view of a developer tank, taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of a latch in the drier unit.

Referring to the drawings, the complete film processor shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of removable side covers 10 and 12. fitted onto a central section 30 forming a light-tight housing or casing. A film feed magazine 14 having a light-tight casing cover 15 is clamped to the center section 30 by clamp 38, and a take-up reel 16 is clamped to the housing of the processor at the end thereof opposite the feed magazine 14. A film strip 18 initially exposed, is fed from within the film magazine 14 through the processor and the processed film is taken up on the take-up roll 16.

A carrying handle 20 is attached to the center section 30 and an electric switch 22 controls the electrical power supply to the unit. Cover 10 contains a darkened screen 11 functioning as a vent for an air drying unit within the housing. The center section 30 contains a flat base portion 31 for maintaining the processor in a vertical upright position and providing a broad flat support for the bottom thereof.

Reference may now be had to FIG. 2 for a showing of the processor with one cover removed and a number of the parts shown in section for the purpose of clarity. The film feed magazine .14 is adapted to contain a reel 19 of exposed film 18. The feed magazine 14 has a light-tight removable cover 15 for the purpose of inserting a reel of exposed film therein and removing an empty reel after the film is processed. Of course, an exposed reel of film would be placed in the magazine in a dark room and then cover '15 would be replaced.

The film 18 is fed off the reel 19 over a roller 36 and out through slot 37 in clamp unit 38. The film may then be fed into the housing through slot 39 in the cover unit 30.

Inside of the processor housing, the central section 30 is a vertical support plate 28 centrally located therein as shown in FIG. 3 for example. The individual elements within the housing are supported fromvertical support plate 2.8. A flange or band 33 extends around the periphery of plate 28, and the edges of the flange 33 contain grooves 32 for the covers and 12. The supporting base 31 is attached to the bottom of plate 28.

The film 18 first passes through a number of developing or processing tanks 40, 50 and 60. These processing tanks contain suitable solutions utilized in the developing and processing of film well known in the art and the tanks are all of identical construction, being constructed of plastic or other suitable non-corrosive material.

Since each developer tank is identical in construction, only tank will be described in detail. Tank 40 contains outer walls 42 and a centrally depending center section 44 spaced from the outer walls and defining therebetween a very narrow cavity 41, which, for the sake of clarity, is exaggerated in the drawings. FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the tank showing the side walls 42 and the center section 44 defining the narrow cavities 41. The tank 40 is also provided with three rubber rollers 45, 46 and 47. Rollers and 47 are at the top of the tank while roll 46 is at the bottom of the tank supported by the center section 44. A suitable developer or processing solution is supplied to the tank through tube 48 and after rising to the level of overflow drain tube 49, passes back into a solution supply; FIGS. 2 and 5. If, for storage or other reasons, it is desired to drain the tank 40, a suitable drain 69 is provided controlled by a screw threaded drain valve 61.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each tank is provided with a top or lid 52 and the tanks are individually sealed by a pair of rubber flange lips. For example, in tank 40, sealing is accomplished by lip 51 attached to the side walls 42 and extending upwardly to cooperate with lip 54 attached to lid 52 and extending downwardly. The lips 51 and 54 provide a wiping or squeegeeing action for the purpose of removing the surplus solution from the film and assuring that the solution stays within the same processing tank.

The lid 52 is attached to a plate '56 and each individual lid of each processing tank is similarly attached to plate 56 by a center stud, such as stud 62, and alignment pins 64. The plate 56 is, in turn, hinged to tanks 40 and 60 by two hinges, such as hinge 58 shown on tank 60. A spring 66 cooperating between plate 56 and lid 52 holds the lid firmly against the top of the tank.

Because the lids of the processing tanks are attached to hinged plate 56, they may be swung out of operating position for allowing a leader of the undeveloped film to be passed over roller 45, down through cavity 41, under roller 46 and on, up and out over roller 47. Similarly, the exposed film leader can be threaded through tanks 50 and 60.

After the film passes through the three processing tanks 40, 50 and 60, any solution remaining in the spocket holes or film perforations is removed by two jets of warm air directed downwardly through the film perforations by jet nozzle 63. The solution is blown out into trough 71 connected to tank 60. The air supply for jet nozzle 63 is supplied by a heater-blower unit and any residual solution remaining in the film sprocket perforations will be removed by the jet from nozzle 63.

The film then passes over a metering roller 65 positively driven from a drive motor, and a pinch roller 67 attached to arm 63 and biased by spring 70' cooperates with the metering roller 65 to provide a controlled metered drive of the film strip 18.

The film then passes over a guide roller 72 and through a means for wiping excess moisture from the film consisting of two strips of absorbent material 74, such as chamois, positioned over a hollow block or cylinder 76 of a porous substance, such as cindered powdered metal or plastic. Warm air is directed from the heater-blower through the blocks 76 rapidly evaporating the moisture absorbed by the strips 74 from the film. This removes all water spots from the film which would be visible after air drying.

The film 18 then passes to a drying unit 80. The drying unit contains four rollers 02, 84, 06 and 88 rotatably supported in fixed position from the vertical support plate 2?. The film 18 passes between these rollers and rollers 83, and 87, which are rotatably supported from a movable carriage 90. Carriage 90 rides vertically upwards and downwards on rods 96 while being guided by rollers 93 attached to the carriage. In normal operation, the carriage 90 is held at its uppermost position by a prestressed fiat spring 100. This position is shown in full lines in FIG. 2.

A hinged panel 102 is included in the drier unit 80. The film 18 is sandwiched, in its passage over rollers 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88, between panel 102 and the vertical support wall 28. Heated warm air is supplied through a slotted opening 190 and passes vertically upward between wall 28 and hinged panel 102 around the moving film sinuously trained over rollers 03, 84, 85, 86, 87 and 88, and is exhausted through opening 11.

For threading the film through the drier unit 80, the hinged panel 102 may be swung open and the carriage 90 pulled downwardly against the action of spring until a latch 104 engages in a slot 106 in plate 28, FIGS. 2 and 6. When the carriage 90 is latched in this downwardmost position, rollers 83, 85, and 87 are in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2. In this position, the film strip may be laid horizontally between the sets of rollers as shown in the dotted line position in FIG. 2, thus greatly simplifying the threading operation. The film is then passed outwardly over a guide roller 108 through a slot 109 in the housing and onto the film take-up reel 16. After the film 18 is attached to the take-up reel 16, the carriage may be returned to its uppermost and operative position by closing hinged panel 102 by means of a knob 103. As shown in FIG. 6, panel 102 carries a cam block which cooperates with an ear of spring-biased latch 104 to unfasten the latch from slot 106 and allow spring 100 to pull the carriage 90 to its uppermost position. This closes door 102 and automatically releases the carriage 90 for movement to its uppermost position.

The entire processor is synchronously driven by a single drive motor 110, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4. The motor is supported from the central vertical plate 28 on the side thereof opposite the developer tanks 40, 50 and 60 and drier unit 80. The drive motor has two output shafts 111 and 113. Drive shaft 111 drives shaft 114 through sprocket chain 112 trained around sprocket gears on each of the shafts. Shaft 114 carries a helical gear 115 meshing with a corresponding helical gear 116 mounted on a shaft 118 to form a right angle drive for the metering roller 65.

Also mounted on shaft 114 is another helical gear 120 which meshes with gear 122 to provide a right angle drive for some processing solution pumps. At the end of shaft 114, a bevel gear 124 is in mesh with a bevel pinion 126 attached to a shaft 128 which also carries a gear 130 thereon. Gear 130 functions as a drive gear for a gear train consisting of spur gears 130, 132, 134 and 136, all in mesh. This gear train in turn drives rollers 47 and 57, FIG. 2. Gear 136 drives roller 47 within tank 40 through a slip clutch 137 while gear 132 drives roller 57 within tank 50 through a slip clutch 138. Intermediate gear 134 is an idler gear and is journaled in the vertical support plate 28.

The drive for the take-up reel 16 is detachable from the unit and is indicated generally at 142. The detachable drive unit 142 is coupled to the motor drive shaft 113 through slotted drive coupling 144 extending through an opening .147 in the housing. The drive unit 142 is enclosed in a housing 143 and contains a supported shaft 148 to which is secured a bevel pinion 146. Bevel pinion 146 meshes with bevel gear 150 on the take-up reel drive shaft which is driven therefrom through a slip clutch 152.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the solution for developing or processing the film is supplied to the developer tanks from solution containers 160, and 180.

These containers are identical and only container 160 will be described in detail. It can be seen that the solution containers are on the same side of the vertical support plate 28 as the drive 'motor 110* and as shown in FIG. 3 are on 'theside'of'the drive plate, directly opposite the developer tanks 40', 50 and '60. As shown in FIG. 4, solution container 160 is formed of a non-corrosive material and-is adapted to contain a film developing or processing solution 162. A pump 164 is supported within the solution container below the level of the solution and when operating, it pumps the solution out through tube 48 extending through slot 53 in the vertical plate 28-, FIG. 2, and on into the developer tank 40. Return of flow drain tube 49 from developer tank 40 is connected into the container 160 to complete the solution pumping circuit.

The three solution containers 160 1170 and 180 are threadedly connected to a support plate 172. Plate 172 is positioned between a pair of grooved blocks 174 and 175, FIGS. 3 and 4, so that the entire pumping unit, including the pumps and containers may be removed from the processor for replacing the solution by merely sliding out plate 172 and then unscrewing the solution containers therefrom, as shown best in FIG. 3, plate 172 and the solution containers are held in operative position by knurled screws .176 and 178.

The drive for the three pumps within solution containers 160, 170 and 180* is from the helical gear 120' on shaft 114, which meshes with gear 122 attached to a vertical shaft which, in turn, drives chain sprocket 18 2 and chain .188 trained over sprocket :184 while sprocket 185 with chain 189 drives sprocket 186. Thus, all solution container pumps are driven from the same motor drive. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that when plate 172 and the solution containers are removed, the drive unit for the pumps, including gear 122 and all the gearing elements driven thereby, are also removed from cooperation with helical gear 120.

For supplying the warm dry air to the drying unit 80, the perforation nozzle 63, and the absorbent wiper blocks 76, a blower and heater combination 192 is located beneath motor 110 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Warm air provided by the blower and heater combination is blown through slot 190 and vertical plate 28 into the drier as well as through suitable connections to the jet nozzle 63 and the porous blocks 76.

For storage purposes, the take-up reel 16 and drive unit 142 therefor are removable and stored beneath the cover units as is the film supply magazine 14. The unit may then be carried from place to place by handle 20 providing a light weight portable assembly.

When it is desired to place the unit in operation, the film feed magazine 14 and take-up reel 16 with drive unit 142 are removed from beneath the cover and a roll of exposed, but undeveloped, film is placed in film magazine 14 in a dark room after removing light-tight cover 15. With light-tight cover 15 replaced, a leader on the film is pulled out of the film feed magazine 14, passed through slots 37 and 39 and, with the covers of developer tanks 40, 50 and 60 opened by means of swinging back plate 56, the film is threaded through each of the developer tanks. Then the film is threaded over metering roller 65 and through absorbent wipers 74. The hinged panel 102 is opened by means of knob 103 and the carriage 90 is pulled downwardly and latched in its downward position while the film is passed horizontally between the rollers as shown in the dotted line position of FIG. 2 and then threaded outwardly over roller 108 onto takeup reel 116. When the hinged panel 102 is closed, cam block 105 automatically releases the latch 104 for carriage 90 and spring 100 returns carriage 90 to its upward position shown in full lines in FIG. 2. The film is then threaded through the unit.

If necessary for changing or supplying the processing solutions, the knurled screws 176 and 178 are unscrewed to allow removal of plate 172 and the attached solution containers 160, 1-70 and 180. The solution containers may then be individually unscrewed and the desirable developing or processing solutions may be placed therein and then the solution containers may be replaced on plate 172 and the assembly replaced on its supports in groove blocks 174 and 175, supported from vertical Wall 128. After the motor 110 is connected to a suitable source of power, the switch 22 may be turned on and the motor drives the entire unit, including rollers 47 and 57 in developing or processing tanks 40 and 50 respectively, the pump 164 in solution container 160, as well as similar pumps in solution containers 1'70 and 180, the metering roller 65, the take-up reel 16, and the heaterblower combination. The film 18 will be rapidly and efiiciently processed and developed film will automatically emerge from the unit and be taken up on roll 16.

Thus, applicant has disclosed a highly efiicient and compact portable self-contained processor for rapidly processing photographic film. Because of the small cavities 41 for the film and the covered film containers, there will be no splash of the solution during movement and less solution needs to be used thereby resulting in lighter weight. The absorbent drier and perforation drier removes all the water spots prior to the efifective air drying construction, and the air drier is provided with a unique construction to allow film threading. Both the film feed magazine and drive units are detachable and adapted to be secured within the unit for portability. Furthermore, the drive units and solution containers are all supported on the opposite side of a vertical plate central divider from the film processing per se providing a balanced unit for handling, little solution leakage and a number of other inherent advantages.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A portable photographic film processor comprising a light-tight housing including removable side covers, a vertical support wall centrally positioned within the housing, a light-tight film feed magazine adapted to be detachably secured to the housing at one end thereof and stored in the housing under a removable side cover, a film takeup reel including an integral drive connection adapted to be detachably secured to the housing at the end thereof opposite the film feed magazine and also adapted to be stored within the housing within a removable side cover, a plurality of separate processing tanks within the housing, each tank containing a thin cavity for the passage of film therethrough in contact with the processing solution, an air drying unit within the housing for passing heated air over the film and exhausting the heated air through the side of the housing, means for guiding and driving a film from said film feed magazine to said processing tanks and air drying unit and to said take-up reel, means 'for supporting said air drying unit, said processing tanks, and said film guiding means from one side of said vertical support wall, a plurality of processing solution containers, one for each processing tank, a liquid connection from one of the solution containers to one of said processing tanks for supplying suitable film processing solution to the thin cavities in each of said tanks, a drive motor for the processor within said housing, means for supporting said drive motor and said solution containers from said vertical support wall on the opposite side thereof from the side supporting said processing tanks and air drying unit, absorbent means contacting the film as it passes from said processing tanks to the said drying unit for removing water spots therefrom including, juxtaposed pieces of absorbent material between which the film travels in contact therewith, a hollow block of porous substance mounting each piece of said absorbent material at the end thereof, a source of Warm air supply connected to said block so that warm air directed through said block rapidly evaporates moisture absorbed from the film.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Zollinger Sept. 18, 1934 Aronson et al Aug. 23, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 27, 1960 

